Author: claimsbot

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:
grouping means for organizing delivered contents into groups each constituted by the contents which are given the same group identification (ID) for having degrees of similarity higher than a predetermined value regarding a grouping item including at least one attribute item representative of a content attribute;
calculating means for calculating frequency of uses of the contents with respect to each of the group IDs;
generating means for generating user preference information indicating preferences of a user based on the use frequency calculated by said calculating means, said generating means generating the user preference information based on a normalized use frequency for each group, said normalized use frequency normalized by dividing each use frequency of each content in each respective group by a number of all the contents in the respective group delivered during a time period corresponding to a use history; and
recommending means for giving content recommendations based on said user preference information generated by said generating means.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a grouping attribute constituted by an attribute item indicating a broadcast time slot and by at least one other attribute item is established for said information processing apparatus; and wherein said grouping means organizes said delivered contents into groups by the established grouping attribute.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the grouping item constituted by at least an attribute item indicating a broadcast time slot and the grouping item formed by other attribute items are established for said information processing apparatus; and wherein said grouping means organizes said delivered contents into groups by each of the established grouping items.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said grouping means morphologically analyzes constituent items making up said attribute item of said contents, and determines degrees of similarity between constituent items making up said grouping item based on results of the analysis.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generating means does not utilize the use frequency of the group constituted by the contents failing to meet a predetermined condition when generating said user preference information.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recommending means comprises:
determining means for determining whether or not said use frequency calculated by said calculating means is higher than a predetermined set value; and
setting means for setting a staple flag indicating that the recommended contents have been viewed frequently to said content recommendation information if said use frequency is found higher than said predetermined set value by said determining means.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said generating means comprises extracting means for acquiring metadata about the contents constituting the groups of which said use frequency calculated by said calculating means is higher than a predetermined set value, said extracting means further extracting vectors representing an amount of characteristics of said metadata; and wherein said generating means generates said user preference information based on said vectors extracted by said extracting means.
8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said generating means comprises staple determining means for determining whether or not the contents constituting the groups of which said use frequency is found higher than said predetermined set value correspond to said content recommendation information to which is set a staple flag indicating that the recommended contents have been viewed frequently; and wherein, if said staple determining means determines that said contents do not correspond to said content recommendation information carrying the set staple flag, then said extracting means acquires the metadata about said contents and extracts vectors representing an amount of characteristics of said metadata.
9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said user preference information is constituted by a plurality of attributes and by values representing degrees of importance of said attributes.
10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said generating means comprises familiarity setting means for setting degrees of familiarity with said contents based on the use frequency calculated by said calculating means; and wherein said generating means assigns weights to degrees of importance of said user preference information based on said degrees of familiarity.
11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said generating means comprises:
searching means for searching for contents of which said use frequency is lower than a predetermined value on the basis of a history of uses of said contents; and special preference information generating means for generating special preference information based on metadata about the contents retrieved by said searching means.
12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising:
first extracting means for extracting vectors representing an amount of characteristics of either said user preference information or said special preference information;
second extracting means for acquiring metadata about the contents broadcast in a predetermined set time slot, and extracting vectors representing an amount of characteristics of said meta; and
calculating means for calculating degrees of similarity between the vectors extracted by said first extracting means and those extracted by said second extracting means;
wherein said recommending means selects a predetermined set number of the vectors extracted by said second extracting means, said vectors being selected in descending order of said degrees of similarity, said recommending means further giving content recommendations based on the metadata about the selected vectors.
13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recommending means recommends content for which the normalized use frequency exceeds a preference threshold.
14. An information processing method comprising:
organizing delivered contents into groups each constituted by the contents which are given the same group identification (ID) for having degrees of similarity higher than a predetermined value regarding a grouping item including at least one attribute item representative of a content attribute;
calculating frequency of uses of the contents with respect to each of the group IDs;
generating user preference information indicating preferences of a user based on the use frequency calculated in said calculating, said generating including generating the user preference information based on a normalized use frequency for each group, said normalized use frequency normalized by dividing each use frequency of each content in each respective group by a number of all the contents in the respective group delivered during a time period corresponding to a use history; and
giving content recommendations based on said user preference information generated in said generating.
15. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium including computer executable instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
organizing delivered contents into groups each constituted by the contents which are given the same group identification (ID) for having degrees of similarity higher than a predetermined value regarding a grouping item including at least one attribute item representative of a content attribute;
calculating frequency of uses of the contents with respect to each of the group IDs;
generating user preference information indicating preferences of a user based on the use frequency calculated in said calculating, said generating including generating the user preference information based on a normalized use frequency for each group, said normalized use frequency normalized by dividing each use frequency of each content in each respective group by a number of all the contents in the respective group delivered during a time period corresponding to a use history; and
giving content recommendations based on said user preference information generated in said generating.
16. An information processing apparatus comprising:
a grouping unit configured to organize delivered contents into groups each constituted by the contents which are given the same group identification (ID) for having degrees of similarity higher than a predetermined value regarding a grouping item including at least one attribute item representative of a content attribute;
a calculating unit configured to calculate frequency of uses of the contents with respect to each of the group IDs;
a preference generating unit configured to generate user preference information indicating preferences of a user based on the use frequency calculated by said calculating unit, said preference generating unit configured to generate the user preference information based on a normalized use frequency for each group, said normalized use frequency normalized by dividing each use frequency of each content in each respective group by a number of all the contents in the respective group delivered during a time period corresponding to a use history; and
a recommending unit configured to give content recommendations based on said user preference information generated by said preference generating unit.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1) A circuit board comprising:
a first electrically conductive member having a first surface, a second surface, and a stepped aperture extending through said first and second surfaces;
a first dielectric material which is coupled to said first surface;
a second dielectric material which is coupled to said second surface;
a first circuit assembly having a second electrically conductive member which is coupled to said first dielectric material, said first circuit assembly further including a third electrically conductive member and a first core member which is contained between said second and said third electrically conductive members and which includes at least one air-bridge; and
a second circuit assembly having a fourth electrically conductive member which is coupled to said second dielectric material, said second circuit assembly further including a fifth electrically conductive member and a second core member which is contained between said fourth and said fifth electrically conductive members and which includes at least one air-bridge, said second circuit assembly cooperating with said first circuit assembly and with said first and second dielectric material and with said first electrically conductive member to form a multilayer electric circuit board.
2) The circuit board of claim 1 wherein said first, second, and third electrically conductive members each comprises copper.
3) The circuit board of claim 1 wherein said first and second core members comprise aluminum.
4) The circuit board of claim 1 wherein said stepped aperture has a first interior surface which is partially covered by said first dielectric material.
5) The circuit board of claim 4 further comprising a second aperture which has a second interior surface which is cooperatively covered by said first and second dielectric materials.
6) The circuit board of claim 5 wherein said first electrically conductive member is coupled to a source of electrical ground potential.
7) The circuit board of claim 5 wherein said first and second apertures contain electroplated material which is disposed upon said first and second interior surfaces.
8) A method for making a circuit assembly comprising the steps of:
providing a core member;
forming a stepped aperture within said core member;
attaching a plurality of layers of electrically conductive material to said core member; and
extending said stepped aperture within said plurality of layers of electrically conductive material.
9) The method of claim 8 wherein said core member is electrically conductive.
10) The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of placing dielectric material within said stepped aperture.
11) The method of claim 10 wherein said core member is coupled to a source of electrical ground potential.
12) The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of forming a second aperture within said core member having a concave surface.
13) The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of covering said concave surface with dielectric material.
14) A method for making a circuit board comprising the steps of:
providing a first member having a first surface and a second surface;
applying an etch resistant material to certain portions of said first and second surfaces, thereby exposing at least a first and a second portion of said first surface and at least a first and a second portion of said second surface, said first portion of said first surface being aligned with the first portion of said second surface and said second portion of said first surface being offset from said second portion of said second surface;
creating a first aperture within said first member, said first aperture extending through said second portion of said first surface and said second portion of said second surface and having an interior surface which is substantially covered by said etch resistant material;
selectively removing said second portion of said first surface and said second portion of said second surface, effective to create a second aperture within said first member and to cause said etch resistant material to flow within said second aperture;
providing a first pre-circuit assembly;
attaching said first pre-circuit assembly to a portion of said etch resistant material, effective to cause said first pre-circuit assembly to overlay said first and second apertures;
selectively removing portions of said first pre-circuit assembly, thereby creating at least one air-bridge and lengthening said first and second apertures; and
plating said first and second apertures, thereby creating a multi-layer circuit board.
15) The method of claim 8 wherein said first member comprises an electric ground plane.
16) The method of claim 14 wherein said first pre-circuit assembly is formed by a process comprising the steps of:
providing an electrically conductive member;
placing an etchable adhesive material upon said electrically conductive member;
selectively removing portions of said etchable adhesive material thereby forming certain exposed portions of said electrically conductive member; and
etching said electrically conductive member, effective to form a first aperture through a first and a second of said exposed portions and a second aperture through a third and a fourth of said exposed portions, thereby forming said first pre-circuit assembly.
17) The method of claim 14 wherein said first pre-circuit assembly is formed by a process comprising the steps of:
providing an electrically conductive member;
placing photo resistive material upon first portions of said electrically conductive member;
placing a dry adhesive material upon second portions of said electrically conductive member;
removing said photo resistive material from said electrically conductive member; and
creating at least one aperture within said electrically conductive member through said first portions, thereby forming said pre-circuit assembly.
18) The method of claim 14 wherein said first pre-circuit assembly is formed by a process comprising the steps of:
providing an electrically conductive member;
placing a photo-imageable layer of dielectric etch resistant material upon portions of said electrically conductive member; and
etching said electrically conductive member, effective to form at least one aperture, thereby creating said first pre-circuit assembly.
19) The method of claim 14 wherein said first pre-circuit assembly is formed by a process comprising the steps of:
providing an electrically conductive member;
placing dielectric adhesive material upon said member;
forming an aperture within said electrically conductive member, effective to allow said dielectric adhesive material to partially extend over said aperture; and
coupling a second electrically conductive member to said dielectric adhesive material.
20) The method of claim 14 wherein said second aperture has a second ridged interior surface.

1. A system for monitoring a material application system, comprising:
a spraying application system in a first building site at a first geographic location;
a spraying application system monitoring module that receives real time operating data from said spray application system and that is accessible to a communication network;
said monitoring module formatting said real time operating data into signals accessible via said network; said real time operating data comprising air pressure and material flow rates; and
a remote access module in a second and different building site than said first building site with said second building site being located at a second geographic location that provides access by a geographically remote user to acquire said real time operating data via said network.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said network comprises the Internet.
3. The system of claim 1 comprising a database that contains historical operating parameter information, said database being accessible by said remote user via said remote access module.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said database and operating data are accessible via secure Web pages on the Internet.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote access module accesses real time operational parameters and corresponding parameters stored as initial set-up values to permit geographically remote monitoring of system performance.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein said remote access module accesses operating and historical data for trend analysis and preventative maintenance.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein said spraying application system comprises a powder spraying system and wherein said operating data comprises powder flow rates, powder spray gun electrical powder characteristics, powder spray gun triggering characteristics, powder film thickness characteristics and pressure characteristics.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein said operating data comprises a fire detection status signal.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein said operating data comprises part identification and conveyer speed data signals.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote user accesses said real time operating data and historical data to identify system malfunction.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein said remote user accesses said real time operating data and historical data to identify system malfunction.
12. A system for monitoring and servicing a material application system, comprising:
a material application system in a customer building site at a first geographic location;
a material application system monitoring module that receives real time operating data including information representing a characteristic of the material from said material application system and that is accessible to a communication network;
said monitoring module formatting said real time operating data into signals accessible via said network; said real time operating data comprising air pressure and material flow rates; and
a remote access module in a second and different building site than said first building site with said second building site being the manufacturer’s site of said material application system, said manufacturer’s site being located at a second geographic location that provides access by a geographically remote user to acquire said real time operating data via said network and analyze performance of said material application system.
13. The system of claim 12 comprising a database that contains historical operating parameter information, said database being accessible by said remote user via said remote access module.
14. The system of claim 12 wherein said remote access module accesses real time operational parameters and corresponding parameters stored as initial set-up values to permit geographically remote monitoring of system performance.
15. The system of claim 12 wherein said communication network comprises the Internet.
16. The system of claim 12 wherein the remote user can access and update a repair history database for said material application system.
17. A method for monitoring and servicing a material application system, comprising the steps of:
operating a material application system in a customer building site at a first geographic location;
accessing real time operating data from said material application system over a communication network; said real time operating data comprising air pressure and material flow rates;
wherein said real time operating data is accessed from in a second and different building site than said first building site with said second building site being the manufacturer’s site of said material application system, said manufacturer’s site being located at a second geographic location by a geographically remote user to acquire said real time operating data via said network and analyze performance of said material application system.
18. The method of claim 17 comprising the step of accessing historical operating data.
19. The method of claim 17 comprising the step of accessing real time operational parameters and corresponding parameters stored as initial set-up values to permit geographically remote monitoring of system performance.
20. The method of claim 17 comprising the step of accessing and updating a repair history database for said material application system.
21. Apparatus for remote monitoring of a powder spray system, comprising:
a powder spray system operating in a first building site at a first geographic location;
a plurality of data devices for detecting a plurality of said powder spray system real time operating parameters including powder flow rate and air pressure and producing a corresponding plurality of real time data signals;
a controller that receives said data signals and formats them for communication across a communication network;
a communication network; and
a remote access computer in a second and different building site than said first building site with said second building site being located at a second geographic location connectable to said communication network that provides access by a geographically remote user to acquire said real time operating data via said network and analyze performance of said powder spray system.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said communication network comprises the Internet.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said operating parameters are selected to include at least one of the following: fan speed, film thickness, flow rate, air quality, conveyor speed, electrical ground quality, electrical pulse rate and sequence, powder quality, part identification.
24. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said data devices comprise a fire detector.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. Succinic anhydride, which is a raw material for production of polyesters and is obtained by a production process including the steps of: obtaining crude succinic anhydride by a hydrogenation reaction of maleic anhydride used as a raw material; and then purifying the crude succinic anhydride by distillation;
with the succinic anhydride having a -butyrolactone content of not more than 800 ppm and a dilactone content of not more than 500 ppm.
2. A production process for succinic anhydride, which comprises the steps of: obtaining crude succinic anhydride by a hydrogenation reaction of maleic anhydride used as a raw material; and then purifying the crude succinic anhydride by distillation;
wherein: the hydrogenation reaction is carried out in the presence of a catalyst in the temperature range of 120 to 160 C. under a hydrogen pressure of 0.1 to 2.0 MPa; and the distillation is carried out in such a manner that the bottom temperature will be within the temperature range of 125 to 200 C. by reducing the pressure.
3. A production process for a polyester, which comprises the step of carrying out a reaction between an acid component and an alcohol component to thereby produce the polyester; wherein the succinic anhydride as recited in claim 1 is used as the acid component.
4. Succinic anhydride according to claim 1, which has a Yellow-Index (YI) of less than 3.
5. Succinic anhydride according to claim 1, which displays a change of the Yellow-Index (YI) of less than 8 when the succinic anhydride is left in a melted state of 150 C. for 7 hours.
6. A production process for a polyester according to claim 3, wherein the Yellow-Index (YI) of the resultant polyester is not more than 15.
7. A production process for succinic anhydride according to claim 2, wherein the resultant succinic anhydride has a -butyrolactone content of not more than 800 ppm and a dilactone content of not more than 500 ppm.
8. A production process for succinic anhydride according to claim 2, wherein the resultant succinic anhydride has a Yellow-Index (YI) of less than 3.
9. A production process for succinic anyhydride according to claim 2, wherein the resultant succinic anhydride displays a change of the Yellow-Index (YI) of less than 8 when the succinic anhydride is left in a melted state of 150 C. for 7 hours.